‘Confusion’ over car parking spaces proving costly at Drumragh Avenue

CONFUSION over car parking spaces at a town centre car park in Omagh is proving to be a costly business for shoppers, a local councillor has claimed.

Now Barry McElduff is calling for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to work together in a bid to find a “common sense” solution to the ongoing issue at Drumragh Avenue car park, adjacent to the town’s bus depot.

Mr McElduff said that the majority of spaces at this location were classed as ‘off-street’ parking, which is the responsibility of the local council. Motorists need to buy ‘pay and display’ tickets to park in these spaces.

However, unbeknownst to many shoppers, a small number of spaces in the vicinity of Drumragh Avenue are actually ‘on-street’ parking and the responsibility of DfI. This means that people are allowed to park in these spaces for up to an hour, before facing a dreaded Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). But Mr McElduff has been contacted by shoppers parking in the latter spaces who are not aware of the difference and have bought ‘pay and display’ tickets, only to come back and find a PCN left on their vehicle’s windscreen.

Calling for the confusion to be sorted out, the councillor said, “Most people do not understand these blurred lines. How would they? People just want to do their business in the town and not be penalised when they act in good faith by paying for their ‘pay and display’ ticket. This needs to be cleared up and explained properly to people.”

Signs have been put up in the area, but Mr McElduff is calling on a clearer communication strategy from the local council and DfI.

“I have asked both public bodies to work together to come up with a ‘common sense’ solution and for DfI to raise public awareness of this situation in the meantime,” the councillor added.

A spokesperson for FODC said the council had worked with DfI in the past to improve signage to differentiate between ‘on-street’ and ‘off-street’ car parking provision at Drumragh Avenue.

The spokesperson acknowledged that further concerns had been raised on Monday, adding that the council would continue to liaise with DfI in an effort to improve signage and communication to the public.

Meanwhile, a DfI spokesperson said, “The department will review this matter with the council to determine what steps can be taken to help better inform the public of the parking restrictions in place at the roadside adjacent to the ‘pay and display’ car park.”